Oil filler plug

ABSTRACT

The oil filler cap is molded from an oil-resistant elastomer to have a circular top which is shouldered on the bottom side to provide a gripping edge for ease of removal. A cylindrical sleeve extends downwardly from the top having a diverging outer surface which provides a downward urge and locking seal with the reversely turned edge at the oil filler opening in an engine rocker arm cover which is sealed thereby.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Brian F. Rericha Westmont, [IL 8,464

Feb. 4, 1970 Nov. 30, 1970 Mlcrodot Inc. New York, N.Y.

OIL FILLER PLUG 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl .r

Field of Search 220/60.42

[ 9 References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,262,599 7/1966 Muller 2l5/47 X 3,168,961 2/1965 Yates 220/60 2974325 3/1961 Ross H 220/60 FOREIGN PATENTS 1.0251394 1/1953 France ZZO/DlG. 19

Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Auorney-Harness, Dickey & Pierce ABSTRACT: The oil filler cap is molded from an oil-resistant elastomer to have a circular top which is shouldered on the bottom side to provide a gripping edge for ease of removal. A cylindrical sleeve extends downwardly from the top having a diverging outer surface which provides a downward urge and locking seal with the reversely turned edge at the oil filler opening in an engine rocker arm cover which is sealed thereby.

PATENTEDunv 30191! 3,523 628 on. FILLER PLUG BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l-leretofore, metal sealing caps have been employed to seal the oil filler opening in the engine rocker ann cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a closure cap for the oil filler opening in an engine rocker arm cover which is reversely turned at the edge to provide an arcuate taper thereto. The opening is herein illustrated as being formed inwardly from the outer flat surface although it could be formed outwardly of such surface. The cap is molded from an oil resistant elastomer, such as Nitrile and the like, to have a circular top portion and a depending sleeve portion of smaller diameter. The hollow interior of the sleeve portion permits greater deflection of the wall thereof for insertion and removal. The outer surface of the sleeve portion is of conical shape diverging from the top to an upwardly diverging bottom section of greater slope which functions as an entrance guide for the end which is to be inserted into an oil filler opening. The sleeve contracts as it is pushed downwardly through the opening and the diverging surface in engagement with the reversely bent edge of the opening is urged downwardly to retain the bottom of the top portion against the surface of the cover and to prevent the accidental removal thereof. The elastic material seals the top surface and the edge of the opening of the cover against the escape of oil or oil fumes while being readily removable to provide an access opening for the oil. When the reversely bent edge extends inwardly of the outer surface, the shoulder in the periphery of the top portion provides a gripping edge for the fingers so that the cap can be easily removed from the filler opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of an engine showing a rocker arm cover thereon provided with the oil filler cap of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the top of the cap and cover illustrated in FIG. 1, as viewed from point 2 thereof, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG.

2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT which has a central opening or recess 18 which provides a flexibility and tight seal which permits ease of insertion and removal of the cap in and out of the opening when engaged by the reversely bent edge 14 thereof. When the reversely bent edge 14 extends inwardly of the cover 13, a shoulder 19 is provided in the peripheral edge at the bottom side of the top portion 16 to permit the ease of grasping the top portion and removing the cap as otherwise the bottom of the top portion would be flush with the top surface of the rocker arm cover. When the reversely bent edge 14 of the opening projects outwardly of the cover, the shoulder 19 may be omitted. The arrangement herein illustrated of having the edge reversely bent within the cover is preferred as the top portion 16 will protrude a shorter distance from the top of the cover and a smaller amount of the elastomer will be required.

The outer surface of the sleeve portion 17 has a downwardly diverging conical section 21 of less slope than an upwardly diverging conical section 22 at the bottom of the sleeve portion which forms an entrance guide for the sleeve when inserted into the reversely bent edge 14 of the opening. The

downward taper 15 of the reversely bent edge 14 and that of the conical section 21 tends to draw the cap downwardly into the opening providing a sealing surface with the top of the rocker cover and with the intumed edge 14 of the reversely bent portion. This not only seals the cap against the loss of oil but also against the escape of any oil vapors. The engagement between the reversely bent edge 14 at the opening and the conical section 21 of the sleeve 17 securely retains the cap within the opening while the shoulder 19 in the top portion 16 permits the cap to be firmly grasped so that it can be readily removed.

I claim:

1. In an oil filler cap molded from an elastomer, a top portion larger in diameter than the fill opening to be sealed, a sleeve portion depending from the top portion providing a central recess and flexibility to the sleeve portion wall, the outer surface of said sleeve portion diverging downwardly from the top portion and diverging upwardly from the bottom end to provide an entrance guide for the insertion of the sleeve portion within an opening, and a shoulder below the peripheral edge of the top portion which permits the top portion to be readily grasped at said peripheral edge for the removal of the cap.

2. In an oil filter cap as recited in claim 1, wherein the upwardly diverging bottom surface is of greater slope than the downward diverging surface thereabove.

3. In an oil filler cap as recited in claim 2, wherein the cap is molded from an elastomer which is oil resistant.

4. In an oil filler cap as recited in claim 3, wherein the oil fill opening has its edge reversely formed to have an arcuate downwardly diverging surface which when engaged by the downwardly diverging surface of the sleeve portion forms a seal and provides a downward urge to the cap to retain it in sealed relation in the opening. 

1. In an oil filler cap molded from an elastomer, a top portion larger in diameter than the fill opening to be sealed, a sleeve portion depending from the top portion providing a central recess and flexibility to the sleeve portion wall, the outer surface of said sleeve portion diverging downwardly from the top portion and diverging upwardly from the bottom end to provide an entrance guide for the insertion of the sleeve portion within an opening, and a shoulder below the peripheral edge of the top portion which permits the top portion to be readily grasped at said peripheral edge for the removal of the cap.
 2. In an oil filler cap as recited in claim 1, wherein the upwardly diverging bottom surface is of greater slope than the downward diverging surface thereabove.
 3. In an oil filler cap as recited in claim 2, wherein the cap is molded from an elastomer which is oil resistant.
 4. In an oil filler cap as recited in claim 3, wherein the oil fill opening has its edge reversely formed to have an arcuate downwardly diverging surface which when engaged by the downwardly diverging surface of the sleeve portion forms a seal and provides a downward urge to the cap to retain it in sealed relation in the opening. 